Sen. Lindsey Graham threatens sanctions against Turkey if it proceeds with military operation against Syrian Democratic Forces

12/12/2024 / By Laura Harris

Sen. Lindsey Graham warns that if Turkey proceeds with a military operation against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), he will propose sanctions against Turkey.
Graham emphasizes the importance of maintaining control over approximately 50,000 ISIS prisoners held by the SDF in northeastern Syria to prevent their release.
The senator suggests establishing a demilitarized buffer zone between northeastern Syria and Turkey to address Turkey’s concerns about groups operating in the region, without threatening American interests.
Turkey-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) captured the northern Syrian town of Manbij, with the SDF withdrawing from the area, the same day Graham threatened the country.
The battle over Manbij is framed as part of a larger Turkish offensive to expel the SDF from border regions.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has vowed to sanction Turkey if it proceeds with a military operation against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a key American ally in the region.

In a lengthy post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Graham argued that it would be detrimental to American interests in Syria and a boon to the Islamic State ISIS for the SDF to be weakened.

The SDF is an Arab-majority coalition of military groups based around northeastern Syria. It is led by Syrian Kurds and Kurdish groups like the People’s Protection Units (YPG). Its decade-long fight against ISIS has been critical in its defeat in Syria. (Related: Turkey unleashes terrorist JIHAD against Aleppo government in Syria.)

“We have to ensure that the roughly 50,000 ISIS prisoners in northeastern Syria – being primarily held by Kurdish forces – are not released. We should not allow the Kurdish forces – who helped us destroy ISIS on President [Donald] Trump’s watch – to be threatened by Turkey or the radical Islamists who have taken over Syria,” he posted on X on Dec. 9.

Graham also outlined that Turkey has legitimate concerns regarding groups operating in northeastern Syria but stressed that these concerns must be addressed in a way that would not imperil American interests. He then proposed the establishment of a demilitarized buffer zone between northeastern Syria and Turkey to safeguard Turkish interests, but warned against any military action by Turkey against Kurdish forces.

“Turkey deserves to have a demilitarized buffer zone between northeastern Syria and Turkey to protect Turkish interests. However, if Turkey takes military action against Kurdish forces in Syria, it will jeopardize America’s interests dramatically,” he continued.

The senator then threatened Turkey that if it still proceeds with a military operation against the SDF, he will propose sanctions. “In the past I have drafted sanctions targeting Turkey if they engage in military operations against the Kurdish forces who helped President Trump destroy ISIS. I stand ready to do this again in a bipartisan way.”

SDF reportedly withdraws from Manbij as Turkish-backed SNA captures the area

Graham made his statements the same day the Turkish-backed Syrian opposition group known as the Syrian National Army (SNA), which is composed of jihadists and Turkish mercenaries, wrested control from the SDF of the major city of Manbij.

According to reports from a Turkish security source verified by Reuters, the Turkish-backed SNA captured Manbij following an American-brokered deal that allowed the SDF to withdraw from the area.

Manbij is located approximately 20 miles south of the Turkish border and was the SDF’s last major settlement west of the Euphrates River. For several days during the major opposition offensives against Bashar al-Assad, the SNA focused all of its attention on fighting the SDF and attacking Manbij instead of joining the attack against the regime.

After a period of intense combat that led to grave casualties from the SNA and high numbers of civilian casualties among the SDF, the SNA took over Manbij.

The conflict in Manbij is part of a broader offensive launched by Turkey and its allied Syrian opposition groups to expel the SDF from border regions. Already, Turkey and its allied SNA units have started attacking SDF positions east of the Euphrates and the symbolically important border city of Kobane, where the YPG gained worldwide fame for its stalwart defense against ISIS.

Watch this Dec. 9 episode of “Brighteon Broadcast News” as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses the fall of Syria’s regime.

This video is from the HealthRangerReport channel on Brighteon.com.